Okay, so I know Valentine’s Day is over a month away but after reading the latest interview with designer Tom Ford and his partner Richard Buckley from Out Magazine, I can’t help but feel all warm and gushy inside. The interview literally gives you butterflies. Love does exsist! Romantics rejoice! After being together for over two decades, their story is truly one of beauty and sincere love. Here are a few highlights from the feature…

The two met at the David Cameron fashion show in New York in 1986 when Buckley was 38 and a fashion editor of Women’s Wear Daily. Ford was only 25. A week and a half later they were reacquainted and it was then in an elevator ride that Ford claims he knew he was going to marry Buckley. “I knew he was different and that whatever it was I felt with him was very different from what I’d felt before”, Ford said.

Their first date took place at a cheap restaurant on the Upper East Side called Albuquerque Eats where Tom went on about his aspirations about showing in Paris, while Buckley admitted he could see Tom was “a good man with a big heart.” Within a mater of days the couple was exchanging their feelings and had moved in together. Buckley presented Ford with a key to his place in a Tiffany’s Box! Although Ford was much younger, he was ready to fall in love, settle down and build a life with someone. Ford touched on the AIDS epidemic of the 80′s and the fact that three years after they moved in together, Richard was diagnosed with what was thought to be fatal cancer. Of this Tom said, “things happen that do, ultimately, bring you closer, because they’re things you go through together and they make your history richer.”

Ford also mentioned that people are often shocked to learn that he and Buckley have been together for 24 years. He said, “Some of the longest relationships I know of are same-sex couples…I’m someone who likes being part of a couple and always wanted that and always sought that, and it would probably be true for me whether I was gay or straight. Richard and I are bound together, and I think that’s what that recognition is when you look someone in the eyes and you feel like you’ve known them forever. It is a kind of coming home.”

Buckley says that Tom is “the perfect modern gentleman. We’re both old-fashioned that way. We both stand for ladies at the table and open doors for people. If you have good manners, people notice. And they appreciate it. You’re showing respect for them.” Buckley also said that he “couldn’t imagine being without Tom now…There’s only one Tom for me. He is still that man who I met 24 years ago, who has a good heart.”

And the best part? Tom says, “Every time you think, I love you, I really believe you have to say it. If you think about holding their hand or kissing them, you do it. I do it all the time.”

What a remarkable couple!

Read the entire interview on Out magazine!

Fashion bible, Women’s Wear Daily is THE go-to resource for news in the fashion industry. The esteemed print publication just celebrated a milestone – it’s 100th birthday! And boy do they know how to get a fashionable crowd to party at their celebration last night.

Since we couldn’t all be at the soiree, there’s still an opportunity to get your hands on a piece of fashion history with WWD‘s CharityBuzz auction. In honor of the big 1-0-0 milestone, WWD asked 22 designers to create unique one-of-a-kind items. The result? A chic Dolce & Gabbana cocktail dress, a classic Burberry trench, a floral Balenciaga bag, and much much more. Of course, these items are worth a pretty penny and bids will cost more than a few months rent, but proceeds will benefit a charity of each designer’s choosing. Even if the glamorous goods are out of your price range, they’re still fun to drool over.

View all of the WWD Charity Auction on CharityBuzz.

It’s amazing that 100 years ago today Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) printed their first independent issue. The publication originally started as an insert for the Daily Trade Record (later DNR), but after a month launched their own daily print edition. The paper went for one cent a day or three dollars for a year’s superscription — not too shabby.

WWD has evolved with the times and technology, while they still have a print edition, their website remains a hub of knowledge for the industry. Seeing their evolution below makes us wonder where MyFDB will be in 100 years; but only time will tell, so for now bon anniversaire WWD!

(Images via WWD)

To many retailer’s surprise lot of women are embracing shorts this season. The short whether it be for a day at the beach, dinner, or a night out is versatile and comes in various fabrics and colors — perhaps that is part its draw? Although, we do realize they’re not flattering on everyone, WWD, got the scoop about shorts being all the rage with a strong return to retail.

Why are they big right now?

Commenting on the shorts phenomenon this season, Roseanne Morrison, fashion director of the Doneger Group, said she’s finding that “incredibly short” shorts are selling particularly well in denims that are vintage or destroyed. “White shorts have started to do well too,” she said. She observed the shorts trend started out really early this spring. “Everyone was wearing them with tights and leggings and boots, and it was a ‘buy-now, wear-now’ classification.”

When did this trend start?

“Down south, it starts to get warm March 1, our shorts business is very good. You have to have variety. It’s not just knee lengths,” said Kelly Bufano, president of merchandising and marketing at Belk Inc.

What shorts trends are in?

“We’re seeing a trend of bottoms, other than denim, that are hip and cool,” said Susan Davidson, chief executive officer of Scoop. She said women are wearing the dressy ones out a night. “I think it’s a replacement for the miniskirt.”

[via WWD]